Animal Cruelty V. People Cruelty

Animal Cruelty V. People Cruelty

Millions of Americans are ecstatic that Congress passed and the President signed a bill making animal abuse a federal crime. In the interests of full disclosure let me say that I have no sympathy for a person that treats animals in a cruel and abusive manner. However, I feel this is an issue that should be dealt with on a state level rather than a federal one.

Do we really want the FBI chasing animal cruelty allegations? Or the DEA making sure that you aren't subjecting your pets to unapproved drugs? For instance, many use these drugs that you put on dogs and cats to deter fleas and other bugs. It absorbs through the skin into the bloodstream and kills any future infestations that feed on their blood. My question is that if that is so great then why aren't we using them on humans to combat Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever? Will there be scheduled drugs that will require a trip to the vet to get a prescription? Will the FBI launch investigations into whether or not you left your dog out during cold weather or if you keep it penned up in too small an enclosure or with too many other animals?

Maybe we could create a whole new enforcement bureaucracy with badges and guns who could seize your property if it was in furtherance of the animal abuse. This could expressly apply to the breeders who treat these animals as if they were chattel or to the feedlots that keep their livestock on barren ground and feed them processed food with antibiotics. It could likely lead to requiring permits to breed animals with annual applications for license renewal to thwart those who do not adhere to the guidelines. Now, all of these practices are good practices but is it something that we want the FBI and DEA involved in?

What if those people, some of whom are children, who are held in cages in concentrations that make public health impossible begin to demand that they receive treatment at least as good as the family dog? Could they also demand public health inspections in the way that the USDA inspects farming facilities? And are those who are responsible for keeping those people in holding pens licensed and regularly inspected by federal inspectors? Could they expect to have climate controlled facilities so that they are not allowed to be too hot or too cold?

Could this lead to applying civil rights to animals? No doubt this would cause great consternation to our farmers who grow meat producing animals expressly for the purpose of being killed. They also leave their dogs out in the fields with sheep and goats and herding dogs work in all kinds of weather. Would there be a limit on how many hours they could work each day or for how long they would have to work before taking a break? Would we have to come up with more humane methods of slaughtering animals so we can have that porterhouse steak? And what about wild animals? These questions will have to be decided by the court system and just try to imagine that.

These considerations may seem foolish to you and it may seem that I am making light of animal cruelty but I assure you that is not the case. I am just reminding you that this is the same federal government that many believe can't get national security, education and health care right.

It could result in animals being treated much better and that is an admirable goal. A direct link has been established between those who abuse animals and people who commit awful abuses of humans. We should always strive to be better people and regard God's creation with respect.

With any piece of legislation there are always unintended consequences such as, but not limited to, those previously mentioned. But what if people see these protections for animals and begin to demand them for themselves?

In short, could they expect to be treated at least as good as the family dog?

Some of this is meant to be tongue-in-cheek and some is meant to encourage people to think about what they ask for. For Congress and the President there is no downside to this unless the farm lobby kicks. I haven't read the bill but it probably makes some exception for farmers. Having said that, I have heard people talk about our meat producing processes and some even advocate not killing animals for food.

Mostly it is meant to encourage more thought about how we treat our fellow humans. How can we advocate for more humane treatment of animals when we treat other humans inhumanely? Could we see a photo of a man bragging about his knife skills while posing with a dead dog and consider it equal to a man doing the same with another human?

Being cruel is despicable no matter to whom or what one does it but isn't it more so when it is done to our brothers and sisters? Shouldn't we care more about that?